Best colleges for Criminal Justice and Corrections in Michigan
Ranked by graduate earnings
Siena Heights University, The University of Olivet and Ferris State University are the top bachelor's Criminal Justice and Corrections programs in Michigan by graduate earnings. Siena Heights University leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $67,009, College Scorecard. Michigan State University, Ferris State University and Wayne State University award the most Criminal Justice and Corrections degrees in Michigan: 227, 181 and 122 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 50 Michigan colleges offer Criminal Justice and Corrections and award 1,902 degrees and certificates a year in all.
The Criminal Justice and Corrections program focuses on the various functions carried out by government agencies related to the punishment, treatment, and supervision of individuals convicted of crimes. This program is ideal for students…
Top 10 bachelor's programs, ranked by graduate earnings
Ranked by median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard. Programs with fewer than 20 graduates a year, a graduation rate under 30%, or online, degree-completion or graduate-only status rank after the rest.
| # | Institution | Starting salary (1 yr) | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Siena Heights University Adrian Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $67,009 | 26 | 39% | $17,015 | $22,250 |
| 2 | The University of Olivet Olivet Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $48,328 | 26 | 35% | $21,946 | $27,000 |
| 3 | Ferris State University Big Rapids Public · Bachelor's degree | $44,897 | 181 | 47% | — | $25,260 |
| 4 | Lake Superior State University Sault Ste Marie Public · Bachelor's degree | $43,937 | 53 | 51% | — | $22,852 |
| 5 | Michigan State University East Lansing Public · Bachelor's degree | $40,390 | 227 | 81% | — | $26,000 |
| 6 | Saginaw Valley State University University Center Public · Bachelor's degree | $40,049 | 49 | 48% | — | $27,824 |
| 7 | Grand Valley State University Allendale Public · Bachelor's degree | $39,857 | 109 | 67% | — | $26,000 |
| 8 | Western Michigan University Kalamazoo Public · Bachelor's degree | $39,614 | 60 | 58% | — | $27,000 |
| 9 | Wayne State University Detroit Public · Bachelor's degree | $39,132 | 122 | 58% | — | $28,604 |
| 10 | Northern Michigan University Marquette Public · Bachelor's degree | $38,518 | 59 | 52% | — | $23,687 |
Top 10 certificate and associate programs
Shorter credentials, ranked separately so they are not compared with four-year degrees. Ranked by median earnings one year after completion (often called starting salary), College Scorecard.
| # | Institution | Starting salary (1 yr) | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washtenaw Community College Ann Arbor Public · Certificate | $67,732 | 58 | 33% | — | $28,059 |
| 2 | Baker College Owosso Private not-for-profit · Associate degree | $44,354 | 24 | 36% | $15,493 | $18,298 |
| 3 | Mott Community College Flint Public · Associate degree | $34,127 | 26 | 32% | — | $16,781 |
| 4 | Grand Rapids Community College Grand Rapids Public · Certificate | $59,278 | 34 | 21% | — | $11,600 |
| 5 | Northwestern Michigan College Traverse City Public · Associate degree Small program | $52,976 | 16 | 25% | — | — |
| 6 | Oakland Community College Auburn Hills Public · Associate degree | $51,827 | 158 | 21% | — | $13,506 |
| 7 | Schoolcraft Community College District Livonia Public · Associate degree | $49,224 | 32 | 18% | — | $11,868 |
| 8 | Delta College University Center Public · Associate degree | $44,637 | 59 | 27% | — | $9,784 |
| 9 | Jackson College Jackson Public · Associate degree Small program | $39,162 | 13 | 16% | — | — |
| 10 | St Clair County Community College Port Huron Public · Associate degree Small program | $32,691 | 19 | 34% | — | — |
Colleges awarding the most Criminal Justice and Corrections degrees in Michigan
Top 10 by graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25 completions). Certificate and associate programs, online, degree-completion and graduate-only schools, and schools with a graduation rate under 30% are listed in full below.
| # | Institution | Graduates / yr | Starting salary (1 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Michigan State University East Lansing Public | 227 | $40,390 |
| 2 | Ferris State University Big Rapids Public | 181 | $44,897 |
| 3 | Wayne State University Detroit Public | 122 | $39,132 |
| 4 | Grand Valley State University Allendale Public | 109 | $39,857 |
| 5 | Madonna University Livonia Private not-for-profit | 67 | $36,296 |
| 6 | Oakland University Rochester Hills Public | 62 | $35,705 |
| 7 | Western Michigan University Kalamazoo Public | 60 | $39,614 |
| 8 | Northern Michigan University Marquette Public | 59 | $38,518 |
| 9 | Lake Superior State University Sault Ste Marie Public | 53 | $43,937 |
| 10 | Kellogg Community College Battle Creek Public | 51 | Not reported |
ShowHide the other 40 Michigan colleges offering Criminal Justice and Corrections
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Correctional Officers and Jailers (SOC 33-3012).
Top skills
What Correctional Officers and Jailers earn in Michigan
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Criminal Justice and Corrections programs in Michigan.
Which Michigan colleges award the most Criminal Justice and Corrections degrees?+
Michigan State University (227 graduates a year), Ferris State University (181 graduates a year) and Wayne State University (122 graduates a year) award the most Criminal Justice and Corrections degrees in Michigan, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 50 Michigan colleges offer Criminal Justice and Corrections.
What is the best college for Criminal Justice and Corrections in Michigan?+
By graduate earnings, Siena Heights University leads among bachelor's Criminal Justice and Corrections programs in Michigan, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $67,009, College Scorecard. The University of Olivet and Ferris State University follow. By degrees awarded, Michigan State University is the largest, with 227 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Criminal Justice and Corrections program in Michigan has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, Siena Heights University tops the list at $67,009. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.
How much do Correctional Officers and Jailers earn in Michigan?+
The average annual wage for Correctional Officers and Jailers in Michigan is $63,120 (median $64,020), across about 8,220 jobs. Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025.
What is the focus of the Criminal Justice and Corrections program?+
The Criminal Justice and Corrections program focuses on the various functions carried out by government agencies related to the punishment, treatment, and supervision of individuals convicted of crimes. This program is ideal for students…
What skills will I develop in this program?+
You will develop active listening, monitoring, speaking, critical thinking, and related professional skills.
What is the job outlook for Correctional Officers and Jailers?+
The national job outlook is about -7.8% growth with around 30,100 annual openings (BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034).
What is the typical education requirement?+
A High school diploma or equivalent is the typical entry-level education for this field (BLS).
About the data on this page
Every figure comes from an official federal or public source. Here is each one and the release it is currently on.
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